Here comes the bride

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PRINCETON – The bride stood quietly at the end of the decorated garden room, waiting for the wedding music to begin so she could once again walk down the aisle to meet her chosen groom.

Dressed in a bright floral summer dress, short white jacket and white wedding veil, the bride glanced past the assembled guests to find her groom waiting for her at the front of the room. Attired in a light blue sports coat and dark pants, the groom was also waiting for the wedding music to begin.

About 50 people attended the June 26 afternoon ceremony in the garden room of Liberty Village in Princeton. Flower girl Kayla Folger and ring bearer Parker Johnson preceded bride Patsy Stickel down the aisle as The Wedding March played. Waiting for Patsy at the front of the room was her groom, her husband of nearly 60 years, Art Stickel.

The day before the June 26 renewal of vows ceremony, Art said he expected to be just as nervous this time around, 60 years after he and Patsy first exchanged their wedding vows.
In a pre-ceremony interview, the Princeton couple talked about how they first met, how long it took for her to notice him and what it’s been like to be married nearly 60 years.

Art said he first saw Patsy when they both lived in Putnam. He was 25 years old. She was just 20. One day, when he drove by her house on his motorcycle, he saw Patsy in her yard. That’s all it took. He knew right then and there she was the one for him.

His initial attraction to Patsy’s beauty has been long-lasting, Art said.

“Just look at her now,” Art said. “She’s as pretty today as she was then.”
Though Art fell for Patsy at first sight, it was another three years before Patsy became interested in Art.

After just five months of dating, Art and Patsy became engaged. Art remembered how he bought Patsy’s engagement ring from Redshaw’s, an international trader who had a big warehouse business in Granville. A person could find anything they needed at Redshaw’s, Art said.

When asked about his wedding proposal to Patsy, Art wasn’t so sure he could remember the details. Their wedding was a natural result of their growing love and commitment to each other.

Things were a lot different then than they are nowadays, Patsy said. Before they were engaged, Art had planned a trip to Kentucky to visit family. He wanted Patsy to go with him, but couples didn’t travel together without being married. They loved each other and decided to get married.

After their Aug. 14, 1949, wedding in the Putnam Christian Church, Patsy insisted on carrying their wedding license with them when they went to Kentucky. She didn’t want people to think she was traveling with someone who wasn’t her husband.

When asked about their secret for a long marriage, Patsy said there are no secrets to staying married. It’s something you just do. There’s a lot of give and take when it comes to marriage. Some days there’s more giving than taking, she said.

“You just go through every day like you did the day before and you wake up one day and it’s been 60 years,” Patsy said.

The Stickels decided to renew their wedding vows to coincide with Liberty Village’s observance of June as Wedding Month. Art is a resident at Liberty Village, while Patsy still lives in their Princeton home and visits her husband daily.

In preparation of the Stickels’ wedding vows renewal ceremony, the Liberty Village staff hosted a bridal shower for Patsy. She received some good things, like scented candles, dish towels, a new wood spoon, a Teflon spatula, and a new flyswatter. Patsy said. Art had a bachelor party with five of his friends at Liberty Village, but declined to reveal many of those details.

Looking back on their years together, Art said there are definitely things to be learned from being married, like how to stretch a paycheck and to make ends meet. The young couple had two sons, Lynn, now of Granville, and Ted, now of Lacon.

Patsy said you also learn to not get so upset over the little things and to make the most of the good moments of each day. Her faith in the Lord has played a vital part of her life, she said.

Renewing their wedding vows wasn’t something they had originally planned to do, but it’s been fun, Patsy said.

On Friday, June 26, just two months shy of their 60th wedding anniversary, the Stickels positioned themselves before their assembled guests as soloist Bernice Pihl sang the traditional wedding song, “I Love You Truly”, and as Pastor Brian Moore shared his thoughts about marriage.

Moore thanked the Stickels for their example to the community of a couple who were committed to each other in marriage. Their love has deepened and matured during the past 60 years. He encouraged them to continue to make mercy, kindness, and forgiveness a regular part of their days.

After repeating their wedding vows to each other, Art and Patsy Stickel sealed their vows with a kiss, just like they did nearly 60 years ago.